Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern shapes a comforting series about friendship and overcoming challenges, sharing her inspiration behind Ariana Treasure and the Treasure Chest thrift shop.

What do you love most about writing children’s fiction?

Personally, I adore children’s fiction. Even as an adult, I love reading children’s fiction. There is a sense of wonder, magic, adventure and enchantment, that can only be found within the pages of a good children’s book. That is truly special. Writing for children gives me the opportunity to enter that magical world and play with imagination. It allows me to let my creative spirit free. I’m beyond grateful I have the privilege to be able to write children’s fiction.

A good book can be the best companion for a child, it can empower and uplift them. It can help them find their unique place in the world. Books can transport children to places they’ve never been, exposing them to new worlds. Books can educate and inspire, expanding brains and hearts. Children’s books are truly life-changing and I love being even a small part of bringing these stories into the world.

What inspired you to write the Ariana Treasure series?

Growing up, my mum would volunteer at a local charity shop/thrift shop. I used to go along with her. I loved how the shop would bring the community together. It was here that I also learned the true benefits of thrift shops in reducing waste, promoting sustainable consumer habits and supporting a circular economy. I also liked the idea of upcycling and the thrill of the hunt when it came to preloved shopping. I began to see the positives for our environment and the community. Today, I still like swapping items with friends, family and others in the community. Items that I may no longer use or need soon become treasured possessions for others. This was the concept behind Ariana Treasure and the Treasure Chest.

Have any personal experiences informed aspects of the story?

The stories in this series are related to experiences I had growing up. For example, The Missing Book: I had a treasured book that my grandpa gave me when I was younger. When we moved to Australia from Sri Lanka that book got lost. I was devastated. It still breaks my heart that I don’t have that book anymore, but I am glad I still hold the memories of my grandpa reading it to me. And, spoiler alert: I’m very glad Ariana gets her book back in the story! The Secret Ingredient: I’m not the best cook… but I do know that when I cook with others my dishes turn out much better than when I cook alone. I think cooking and feasting are experiences better shared. Hunter and Jake’s mishaps are based on mine. When I write my stories, I often share them with trusted friends (my writing buddies). I feel having a team around you is always important to help reach your goals/dreams. That was the notion behind the secret ingredient. I also know a lovely Hunter who has two fabulous parents who are incredible cooks; they inspired this story too.

This story, of course, revolves around the central location of the Treasure Chest. Have you also had similar inspirational experiences with any thrift shops in your local area?

I do love visiting thrift shops in my local area. These days, thrifting has become rather popular so there are quite a few shops around. I also like that going to a thrift shop encourages you to declutter. The more you visit a thrift shop, the more compelled you are to donate too.

I have had some inspirational experiences on visits to a thrift shop. I often get ideas for stories whilst perusing items. Like Ariana in the story, it’s fun to think about who may have donated certain items. Pondering the life of a thrifted item, especially vintage pieces and precious handmade pieces. Thrift shops can definitely inspire story ideas. You can also find a unique, one-of-a kind piece at a thrift shop. We have found some exquisite photo frames, jewellery and pieces of art whilst thrifting. I also recently picked up a book on surface design, which has now inspired another creative outlet I’m exploring at the moment. You can find new hobbies at a thrift shop or like Maya in book #3 of the Ariana Treasure series, perhaps a new talent.

The first book of the series, The Missing Book, includes a character recently moving home and introduces Ariana’s late grandfather. What was it like to write about these themes of change and loss for a young audience?

Change and loss are significant parts of life. At a young age I experienced both change and loss. We moved to Australia from Sri Lanka in my very early years. Like Alex in book #1 of the Ariana Treasure series, I had to find my place in a new community. It wasn’t easy but by honouring my feelings, asking for support when needed and being open to exploring my surrounds, I did find my place and made some beautiful friends in the process. Similarly, my grandfather passed away a year or so after we moved to Australia. It was hard! My grandfather and I were very close. It took a lot of time to move past the grief, even as a child. But I found ways to really honour his memory. Still to this day, my stories are often crafted with him in mind.

I drew directly from my own experiences as I wrote about these themes in the Ariana Treasure series. I wanted to acknowledge the complexity of feelings that do arise when faced with loss and change. I wanted to provide some comfort to young audiences who might be facing these challenges, whilst respecting what they might be going through. I hope I was able to do that.

Was there anything you found challenging about planning and writing this series?

I was excited to write this series. The concept has been brewing within me for some time so when I had the opportunity to write, the words flew onto the page. However, one of the challenges I faced was finding time to write. Sometimes life can be a juggle! I did eventually find ways to write around my other commitments (those little moments of quiet in the morning and at night) and block out some dedicated writing time (thanks to my husband and parents) which helped me really get into each story. When it comes to writing a series, it does take a lot of planning. Another challenge… I’m not a planner! However, I learned to become one. With a series, you want each story to stand out on its own, but there still has to be something that links all the stories together. You also want to show the characters evolve through each book and the series as a whole.

In the Ariana Treasure series, there are recurring characters. They may star in one book and then pop in and out of others. It was important to carefully consider each character, their unique story and their place in the community. Weaving and intertwining the characters and the stories in the series considerably took some shaping and forethought. I’m so pleased with how each story and the whole series has come together. I’m very grateful to the team at Wombat Books for their support throughout the process. They were definitely there to help me if I faced any challenges. The same goes for my writing buddies too, who read many a draft.

What do you hope readers will take away from this series?

I hope readers enjoy each story and have fun with Ariana. I hope they can identify with one or more of the characters. I hope they find time to reflect on the precious items they may have at home and the stories behind them. But most of all, I hope readers find a treasured friend in Ariana. This series is perfect for early readers, I aimed to keep the vocabulary and sentence structure simple enough for a child to read alone, but have the stories complex enough to keep young readers interested. I hope the series nurtures young readers and supports a fondness for reading.

Do you have any other projects in the works?

I’m always writing. I can’t stop. I just have a deep desire and passion to create stories. I have a number of projects in the works, all in the children’s fiction space. I can’t say too much just yet but please watch this space.